Research by Global Energy Monitor showed nearly two-thirds of the world’s big wind and solar energy production plants are in China.
China currently has 339 GW of capacity under construction, including 159 GW of wind and 180 GW of solar.
The research said this is “nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined”.
This figure is also much higher than that of the second-place United States, which is building a total of just 40 GW.
Global Energy Monitor added despite progress in installations, the challenge remains of how China’s coal-centred grid will absorb the unprecedented surge in renewables and deliver the additional power to demand regions.
Although power storage capacity is rapidly growing, China’s grid still heavily relies on coal power to mitigate the intermittency of renewables, overshadowing the achievements of wind and solar.
Also read: China’s coal generation hits record low in May as renewables reach new highs, analysis shows
If all proposed utility-scale solar and wind projects come online as planned, China could easily reach 1,200 GW of installed wind and solar capacity by the end of 2024. This would be six years ahead of President Xi Jinping’s pledge and one year earlier than GEM’s forecast from last year.
The report, however, added, “China’s energy officials have expressed no intention to reach the peak earlier than its official goal. Some argued that the power sector’s postponed peak would help other sectors’ electrification and avoid early sunk costs from the coal power industry.”
